As summer nears and bushfire conditions intensify across Victoria, the state’s major coal mine operators in the Latrobe Valley are being urged to maintain rigorous fire prevention and emergency response measures.
Resources Victoria, the state body overseeing mining operations, is collaborating with Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) and the three Latrobe Valley coal mines to strengthen preparedness and reduce the risk of fires at the open-cut sites near Morwell, Yallourn, and Loy Yang.
Inspectors from Resources Victoria are undertaking regular site visits to confirm that each operator has finalised its fire risk management and emergency response plans.
These checks ensure that critical safeguards — such as fuel management programs, water supply systems, and equipment availability — are in place as temperatures rise across Gippsland.
“Each coal mine has a fire management plan, and it’s important that these sites do everything required to reduce the risk of fire each and every day,” said Executive Director of Regulatory Operations, Laura Helm.
Under Victorian regulations, coal mines must maintain comprehensive fire risk management plans (FRMPs), detailing how operators will minimise the likelihood of fire and respond swiftly should one occur.
These plans also outline how mine operators scale up readiness levels on days declared as having an “extreme” or “catastrophic” fire danger rating.
Emergency management strategies are also audited to confirm that staffing and equipment levels meet seasonal requirements.
These include continuous site patrols, early-warning systems, and dedicated fire suppression resources tailored to mine conditions.
“The coal mine operators have been planning for summer, and we’ll continue inspecting and auditing the sites to ensure they are prepared, and the necessary response crews and equipment are in place,” added Helm.
According to the National Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Spring 2025, released by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), south-west Gippsland faces increased fire risk due to a combination of warm, dry conditions and significant fuel growth following a wet winter.
The report warns that coastal and lowland areas in Victoria — including regions near the Latrobe Valley — are more susceptible to fast-moving grass and scrub fires this season.
Fire Rescue Victoria and Country Fire Authority (CFA) brigades maintain dedicated response arrangements for the Latrobe Valley mines to prevent incidents similar to the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire, which burned for 45 days and heavily affected local air quality.
Lessons from that disaster led to major reforms in mine safety regulations, including enhanced monitoring and tougher compliance standards under the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (Vic).
Resources Victoria has confirmed that inspections will intensify during the 2025–26 summer period, ensuring operators remain vigilant as heatwaves, wind events, and dry lightning storms become more frequent across the state.
